SL to co-sponsor resolution again: Mangala

By Nabeela Hussain
Stating that the resolution that is once more to be co-sponsored by
Sri Lanka at the UNHRC is the resolution that was presented previously in 2015, Foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera stated the government had requested for an extension of two years to implement the resolution.

Speaking at a media briefing, Samaraweera stressed that the contents of the resolution was the national programme provided by the Sri Lankan government and not one that was forced upon it by the international community.

Being newly elected at the time, the government had laid out a road map for reconciliation, which the international community had supported and made several recommendations to.

The media briefing which focused mainly on the previous regime and the findings of the investigations conducted by the current government, the foreign minister went on to say that the international community was committed to conducting an investigation into the last stages of the war no matter what the government’s decision on complying with the investigation.

“If the government had not changed when it did, there would be international sanctions imposed on the country now. The freedom Mr. Rajapaksa has now of visiting other countries would not exist as travel bans would also be imposed. We proposed a road map for change and we asked them for their support, which they gave us,” he said.

Additionally, the foreign minister neither confirmed nor denied the inclusion of foreign judicial officers in the judicial process of the country. However, he pointed out that the passages on such officers were infact just a recommendation made by the international community when drafting the resolution.

He pointed out that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein himself had admitted to the same and stated that there could be variations on how it is implemented.

“As a sovereign nation we are entitled to look at all options. We cannot bring in foreign judicial officers under the existing constitution. We are looking at all our options,” the minister said.